Well, I don't want to say the year or division because it would call out the team. But I have seen the results of not doing the scorched earth strategy as well.
(FYI this story is not about 341, just something I observed)
It went something like this:
Seed #1 (not a powerhouse) was advised by the experienced mentor of a their potential top pick to select a subset of other teams before selecting them so that they had a chance. The top pick was a powerhouse team that ended up outside the top eight.
Seed #1 said no, because they claimed that their top pick was trying to "trick" them into doing something they did not want to do. Other mentors from multiple teams confirmed for the #1 Seed that this was a good strategy if they wanted to have any chance at all.
Seed #1 number does not accept the advice of their future partner and takes their first choice immediately anyway. The top pick is outside of the top 8 and has to accept, even though they would not take this really good advice.
Everyone in the Division gets crushed as two powerhouse teams get together. By not listening to their potential partners advice and not trusting, that #1 Seed singlehandedly sealed everyone's fate and formed the World Champions that year.
While the #1 Seed certainly had the right to do what they wanted, listening to good advice and trusting your potential partners is not a bad idea either.
